Is WhatsApp Effective at Increasing the Return Rate of Blood Donors?

eHealth technologies for enhancing blood donor knowledge and behaviour: A PRISMA scoping review

BACKGROUND

Blood donor information and education are pivotal in improving knowledge and encouraging positive behaviours towards blood donation. Their impact of utilizing eHealth technologies on self-efficacy presents new opportunities to improve knowledge and encourage people to donate blood.

OBJECTIVE

A scoping review was conducted to understand the nature of the scientific evidence on improving knowledge and influencing the behaviours of blood donors with eHealth technologies.

METHODS

Through a systematic literature search, 6261 published papers were screened, and 20 were reviewed.

RESULTS

eHealth technologies commonly utilized were audio/telephone calls, text messages, emails, audio-visuals, mobile health and smartphone applications, custommade software applications and social media. They were mainly used to disseminate educational and motivational information, send reminders, and enhance the blood donation experience. They significantly impacted the knowledge and behaviours of blood donors, including increased blood donation rates and repeat blood donations, and enhanced blood donor awareness, motivation and behaviours. Facilitators for their effective utilization included personalisation, organisational support, user-centred design and interactivity, clarity and privacy, automation, and cultural acceptance. Barriers included technical, communication, usability, poor access, low awareness and operational limitations.

CONCLUSIONS

eHealth technologies could be integrated into traditional blood donor programs even though they are not a panacea for all blood donor recruitment challenges. Targeted research is needed to understand their long-term effectiveness and applicability. Future research should address gaps identified, particularly focusing on the impact of contextual differences and health literacy. Such research will promote the development of more effective and inclusive blood donor engagement programs and technologies.

Efficacy of communication interventions for promoting blood donation in low- and middle-income countries: A systematic review

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES

In low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), information on the efficacy of communication interventions promoting blood donation is very scarce. The present review aimed to identify specific communication interventions and their efficacy for increasing blood donation in LMICs.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The databases searched were PubMed, Scopus, PsycINFO, Web of Science, CINAHL, ProQuest, AJOL and CAB Abstracts. Grey literature sources included the websites of African Society of Blood Transfusion, International Society of Blood Transfusion and World Health Organization. The outcomes of interest were donation attempt or actual blood donations.

RESULTS

A total of 16 studies including nine randomized controlled trials (RCTs) were included in the review. The communication interventions included social media and mass media, such as radio and television, as platforms for promoting blood donation, and newspaper articles or advertisements as an incentive for donor recruitment. Mobile text messages were used either alone or in combination with phone calls, and other interventions such as meetings and brochures. Only three of the 16 studies specifically targeted behavioural science theories, and none of the 16 studies used any implementation science framework. For some communication interventions, there was evidence of statistically significant increases in donations, but the quality of the studies was weak.

CONCLUSION

The efficacy of communication interventions for promoting blood donations in LMICs remains limited due to few rigorous studies. More rigorous, theory-based studies on the use of communication interventions to increase blood donation in LMICs, especially in sub-Saharan Africa where no prior RCT were identified, are needed.

Connecting verified databases with clinical practice and the patient' s experience through omnichannel communication

INTRODUCTION

Patient-reported outcomes (PRO) collect data directly from patients. These data are utilized in clinical practice, helping decision-making. Studies emphasize the importance of omnichannel communication (WhatsApp, e-mail, SMS) with healthcare professionals and patients. Omnichannel communication enables the integration of different communication channels to improve the end-client experience. In addition to the means of communication, the daily practice of professionals requires different activities that can be performed in distinct systems. The existence of various separate systems for other activities in medical practice may result in complexities and bottlenecks in their use by healthcare professionals and patients.

OBJECTIVE

To present the Digital Health Ecosystem (DHE) that unifies scientific research with medical practice in omnichannel communication and mechanisms to verify the authenticity and integrity of the data collected and stored.

METHODOLOGY

The system requirements and needs were met utilizing the Iconix development methodology. Microsoft Dot Net was used to develop software. Usability, usefulness and user satisfaction with the system were measured using the Post-Study System Usability Questionnaire (PSSUQ).

RESULTS

Omnichannel communication was utilized to contact patients and healthcare professionals autonomously. A single system enabled the carrying out of patientreported outcome data collection, telemedicine, image storage, and notes from patient consultations. The data was collected through structured questionnaires via link and chatbot. The functionalities created in the HDE allowed the integrity and authenticity verification of the data collected and stored.

CONCLUSION

Personalized omnichannel communication via links and chatbots using WhatsApp, E-mail, and SMS accelerates autonomous interaction with patients and healthcare professionals. In addition, the structured and non-structured data were stored in the EHD and able to be verified for integrity and authenticity.

Smart approaches for encouraging the blood donation

Blood is a life saver in many emergencies like accidents or for the patients suffering from deadly diseases such as cancer and thalassemia. Conventionally, blood collection is done in five steps, i.e., recruitment, screening, physical examination, collection, and postdonation care. The huge demand of blood requires the implementation of smart approaches in the field of blood donation, which allows specific, measurable, achievable, and timely outcomes. This paper throws light on various smart approaches to motivate and attract people for blood donation. Gamification, social media, short message service, mobile applications, and other web-based applications are some of these approaches reviewed in this article. A number of platforms are also highlighted where one can seek potential donors or blood banks easily during urgency, avoiding the complex steps followed in traditional blood donation systems.

How to increase first-time donors' returns? The postdonation letter's content can make a difference

Background

Retention of first‐time donors is pivotal for blood collection centers. The present study built on research showing the importance of donor identity among regular donors and sought to compare the effectiveness of various communication strategies on return rate.

Study Design and Methods

Postal letters were sent to a large sample of first‐time whole blood donors (N = 1219) a few weeks following their first donation. Four versions of this letter were differently constructed in a way to boost the acquisition of donor identity (i.e., by including information about their ABO and Rh(D) blood group, emphasizing the salience of donor identity, offering a keyring with personalized information, or specifying the percentage of those sharing the same ABO and Rh(D) blood group). One version with no identity‐related information served as a control condition. Participants' subsequent blood donations were tracked for 5–22 months after receiving the letter.

Results

Survival analysis showed that the return rate was significantly higher among those who had received information about the percentage of the country's population with the same ABO and Rh(D) blood group (in comparison with the four other versions). There was no significant effect on the blood type rarity.

Conclusion

Blood collection centers could orient the strategy employed to communicate with first‐time donors to improve donors' retention. Arousing a sense of social identification with others with the same blood type may reveal a promising avenue.

The Impact of WhatsApp on the Blood Donation Process in Saudi Arabia

Background

WhatsApp was the most popular messenger app used in Saudi Arabia with 71% of the total population using it in 2020. WhatsApp is increasingly being used as a tool for mobile health (m-health) interventions; however, concerning blood donation, there is a lack of research studies on the topic.

Objective

This study aims to measure the general awareness levels of the blood donation process and assess blood donation history, the motivators and inhibitors to donating blood, and to assess the impact of WhatsApp on the blood donation process in Saudi Arabia.

Methods

In this research study, a descriptive quantitative cross-sectional analysis was adopted. A questionnaire survey was designed using Google Forms and distributed online through social media applications to collect data. All citizens aged above 18 years of age were eligible to participate in the survey. There were a total of 150 participants in the study.

Results

More than 90% of participants were aware of their blood group, blood donation requirements, and causes to be deferred from the donation. Furthermore, 27% of participants donated blood because their relatives or friends needed blood, 26% donated due to human solidarity, 18% did not donate blood because of their health condition and 14% did not because of the fear of needles. About 33% of participants relied on WhatsApp to search for blood donors, and all the requests were fulfilled with blood donors. In addition, 94% of participants strongly believed that the WhatsApp application had a significant role in bridging the gap for blood banks' need for blood donors.

Conclusion

Social media applications such as WhatsApp can bridge the gap between blood banks, blood donors and the patients in need of blood in Saudi Arabia, where there is a shortage of blood donors.

Effects of message framing on recruiting Rh-D-negative blood donors in an emergency situation: Two randomized trials

OBJECTIVES

Prospect theory categorizes message framing according to whether it emphasizes a possible loss or a possible gain. Promotions of blood donation worldwide mainly focus on gain-framed appeal. The objective of the current study is to examine the effects of message framing on recruiting Rh-D-negative blood donors (RDNBDs) in an emergency situation.

DESIGN

Two randomized trials.

METHODS

In Study 1, 813 group O and 500 group B RDNBDs were randomly assigned to three groups receiving three different recruitment text messages: (1) gain-framed, (2) loss-framed, and (3) information messages. In addition, 613 group A and 148 group AB RDNBDs were marked as (4) no message group. In Study 2, 758 RDNBDs were randomly provided one of two versions of materials focusing on either the possible survival (gain-framed) or the death (loss-framed) of a Rh-D-negative patient needed a blood transfusion. These participants then completed a questionnaire to examine the possible mechanisms underlying the observed effects.

RESULTS

Compared to not receiving any message, significantly more RDNBDs re-donated within 14 days after they received a loss-framed message. Study 2 found that RDNBDs who read the loss-framed material expressed more willingness to donate immediately than those who read the gain-framed material. RDNBDs with high-risk perception expressed a greater blood donation intention in the loss-framed group. The loss-framed message made participants perceive others' needs more strongly, which generated more empathy, and thus increased blood donation intention.

CONCLUSIONS

The results suggested that recruiting RDNBDs using a loss-framed message is suitable under an emergency.

Use of a rapid electronic survey methodology to estimate blood donors' potential exposure to emerging infectious diseases: Application of a statistically representative sampling methodology to assess risk in US blood centers

Risk assessments of transfusion-transmitted emerging infectious diseases (EIDs) are complicated by the fact that blood donors' demographics and behaviors can be different from the general population. Therefore, when assessing potential blood donor exposure to EIDs, the use of general population characteristics, such as U.S. travel statistics, may invoke uncertainties that result in inaccurate estimates of blood donor exposure. This may, in turn, lead to the creation of donor deferral policies that do not match actual risk.

STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS

This article reports on the development of a system to rapidly assess EID risks for a nationally representative portion of the U.S. blood donor population. To assess the effectiveness of this system, a test survey was developed and deployed to a statistically representative sample frame of blood donors from five blood collecting organizations. Donors were directed to an online survey to ascertain their recent travel and potential exposure to Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV).

RESULTS

A total of 7128 responses were received from 54 256 invitations. The age-adjusted estimated total number of blood donors potentially exposed to MERS-CoV was approximately 15 640 blood donors compared to a lower U.S. general population-based estimate of 9610 blood donors.

CONCLUSION

The structured donor demographic sample-based data provided an assessment of blood donors' potential exposure to an emerging pathogen that was 63% larger than the U.S. population-based estimate. This illustrates the need for tailored blood donor-based EID risk assessments that provide more specific demographic risk intelligence and can inform appropriate regulatory decision making.

WhatsApp in mHealth: an overview on the potentialities and the opportunities in medical imaging

WhatsApp as many other Messaging Apps or "Messengers" enables messaging and exchanging documents and/or multimedia element (images, movies, music) through chat like tools; these last characteristics makes WhatsApp useful for the remote-image exchanging in mHealth for teleconsulting. Among the other potentialities of this App there are (I) the possibility to create groups, the so called WhatsApp Groups and (II) the possibility of this App to be installed into a platform based on a personal computer through the version for pc named WhatsApp Web; these potentialities allow both the creation of protected groups for cooperative teleconsulting and the creation of client-server architectures in telemedicine and e-Health. Scholars have recently shown the usefulness of WhatsApp in several mHealth applications. Recent important studies are highlighting, for example, the wide-range opportunities of WhatsApp as an adjunctive tool in mHealth in medical imaging or in specific applications such as in oral medicine in orthopedics and tele-education. In this contribution we share our alignment with these scholars and presents our polarities of research in the use of WhatsApp. These polarities range from the institutional surveillance of the spontaneous phenomena of WhatsApp groups in the families for the monitoring of the fragile patient up to the test of use of WhatsApp in digital-pathology and digital-radiology static imaging and recently in cardiologic dynamic imaging.

Use of Social Media in the Blood Donation Process in Saudi Arabia

Purpose

The main objective of this research was to investigate the use of social media in the blood donation process in Saudi Arabia. In addition, other objectives were to evaluate inhibitors, motivations and the possibility of using social networks to improve the practice of blood donation in this country.

Participants and methods

A cross-sectional study was carried out to investigate the use of social media in the blood donation process in Saudi Arabia.This study was conducted using an online survey questionnaire distributed through Whatsapp groups to 297 participants between November and December, 2018. Question Pro was employed during the data collection process. Basic descriptive statistics was used to analyze the data.

Results

Almost half of the participants (45%) had previously donated blood and most of them (82%) received requests for blood donation through social media platforms in Saudi Arabia. The most used social media platforms for this purpose were WhatsApp (61%) followed by Twitter (13%), Snapchat (10%), Instagram (6%), Facebook (5%), YouTube (1%), Telegram (1%), and others (2%). The sources of posts that requested blood donation were mainly from friends (43%) and family members (28%). Furthermore, 25% of the respondents considered that human solidarity was the principal motivation to donate blood, and 36% of them expressed that the main inhibiting factor was their health condition. The results insinuated that there is a potential to improve the blood donation practice in Saudi Arabia using social media.

Conclusion

The outcomes of this study indicated that social media had been used to search for blood donors using messages distributed through these platforms in Saudi Arabia, and WhatsApp was the preferred social media to transmit and receive information about the blood donation process. Human solidarity was the most important incentive to donate blood, while the health condition was the main inhibitor. The findings suggested that social media can help to improve the blood donation practice in this country where there is a shortage of blood donors.